Comcast Cable and ESPN announced Friday they have reached an agreement that will allow the cable company to carry the SEC Network.
Comcast Cable will begin carrying the SEC Network on Aug. 14.
Comcast Cable is the largest video, high-speed Internet and telephone provider to residential customers in the United States, and the agreement will allow the network availability to 46 million households across the country. Comcast subscribers will have access to additional live events scheduled for the SEC Network's and Comcast's digital platforms, including the Xfinity TV Go app and website, WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com.
"We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with ESPN to deliver the SEC Network to Xfinity TV customers on multiple platforms," said Matt Strauss, senior vice president and general manager of video services for Comcast Cable.
The SEC Network and its accompanying digital offering will air more than 1,000 live events in its first year, including at least 45 exclusive SEC football games, more than 100 men's basketball games, 60 women's basketball games, 75 baseball games, 50 softball games and events across all of the SEC's 21 sports.
The Arkansas Razorbacks' first two football games in the 2014 season will be broadcast by the SEC Network. Arkansas opens its season with a 3 p.m. game Aug. 30 at Auburn. The Razorbacks play host to Nicholls State on Sept. 6 in a 3 p.m. game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Sun Belt Conference member Arkansas State also will make an appearance on the SEC Network on Sept. 6 when it plays an 11 a.m. game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
The network's first televised game will be Aug. 28, when Texas A&M opens its season at South Carolina. Eight of the league's schools will play season openers on the network. The exceptions are Alabama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Missouri and Ole Miss. The network will feature six games each of the first two weekends of the season.
Sports on 07/19/2014